I think all mothers sense the fleeting nature of childhood at some point. We grow a longing to pause life just long enough to breathe it a little deeper, laugh a little longer, and enjoy right where we are with our children in that moment. Some mothers might feel that way in the first days and months following birth–the quiet moments nursing, the series of firsts as they unfurl from womb to infant. Other mothers enjoy the early childhood years more, when their babies can move freely and express and interact–or even later, as their children bridge into adult years, straddling two worlds at once. Regardless, a mother’s heart always rubs up against time.

We all respond a little differently to time’s slipperiness. I met an older woman last week who saved all of her daughter’s hair clippings. “I literally have bags of it,” she told me. I honestly couldn’t imagine bags of anyone’s hair around my home, but I am forever trying to store time with words and photos. This in itself can sometimes feel like catching the tide. For many of us, parenting can feel overwhelming mundane and rote. Childhood is a collection of routine nothings that we know we’ll one day miss (at least some of them). Today we went to the park. Today you played in bubbles. Today you swam underwater. Today you carried your bag to school. How do we find the moments that matter to us, the ones we’ll really want to savor in future years? I’m not always sure myself, but I keep trying through this space, Instagram, and my own portrait project. As my children grow older, and we’ve closed the door on early years, I want to see and enjoy them more in our daily living together and somehow bottle up a bit of time in the process.

Ginger Unzueta, a homeschooling mother and professional photographer, helps parents discover the lovely bits of their days–and makes us crave summertime, too. In her online workshop, Everyday Beauty, via the Bloom Forum, she leads parents to find the beauty in our routines, in the nothings. She helps her online students understand how light and composition and detail come together to create your story, but she also covers practical topics like taking photos in public or even getting in the photo yourself. (Shock.) Her next three-week online workshop in May is currently sold out, but she is offering one lucky Cloistered Away reader a spot in the class. You can read more about her workshop here, and enter to win a spot below. Make sure to check back, since some of the options are available for daily entries.

This post was sponsored by Ginger Unzueta, a homeschooling mother and business owner who loves helping other parents find the beauty in their messy days. All images are courtesy of Ginger Unzueta. Thank you for supporting businesses that help keep this space alive. All thoughts are my own.

I find it difficult to capture a moment before it changes. And I wonder if other moms, whose photos I admire, have their kids pose more for “candid” shots. Like stirring the dough a little longer or blowing a few more bubbles or are they able to get those shots without the kids noticing or changing their position.

I am a big fan of Ginger’s photography paired with her refreshingly honest words and spiritual Truths. I would love to win a spot in her workshop! What a lovely giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed. :D

The most difficult thing for me is making sure that my kids don’t loathe the camera and keeping my images fresh and not mundane. I try to make myself in the background. But, by doing that I sometimes feel like I miss out on some beautiful shots because I don’t like where they are, etc. And I would love to see more magical light spots in my home that I might be over looking!

photographing children is a bit like catching smoke, isn’t it. the challenge for me comes in observing and capturing without distracting or missing the moment. tricky balance! luckily my son is at an age where he still kind of doesn’t notice me shooting around him so mostly it’s just trying to keep up with him though!

Ginger’s work is AH-MAZING! I have wanted to be in her Everyday Beauty class for a while now–love following her IG account because of how real she is. I suppose the hardest part for me about photographing my children is what to do AFTER the photos have been taken–editing, to share or not to share, organizing, and safe-keeping. I’d love to learn more about Ginger’s process.

My biggest challenge is capturing my kids in pretty light to give photos that wow factor and more ‘feeling’/emotion. Ginger’s photos have all of that and she inspires me with every image that she posts! It would be a dream come true to learn from my favorite photographer!!

Thanks so much for the chance ! Now that my kids are getting older they hate getting their picture taken more and more. Then getting them to take the picture in the first place coupled with getting them into good lighting … :)

Ginger.. I am in constant awe of your work and wld love to learn from u…. And hopefully meet u and your kids one day! I’m constantly telling Greg how amazing your site is and I love not only your pictures but also the inspiration and faith you give. My hardest challenge is capturing good light on my baby for those little moments… Before I lose them. And trying to do it quick before Greg gets mad that I’m taking to many pictures and not enjoying the moment!

I would say that the hardest part of photographing my children is actually working with the available light, as opposed to disturbing the authentic moment to have them move to more ideal lighting :)
So excited about this giveaway!

Right now the hardest thing about photographing my kids is to keep finding the beauty in the same locations and the same activities. Here we are at the park, again. And at Mom’s favorite kitchen window. And eating PB&J. I feel boring sometimes and would live a jump start to help me appreciate routine life!

Huge fan of Ginger and have wanted to take this class for so long! Would love the opportunity! I document my kids all the time, but I’m finding it harder as they get older. I’ve been bracing myself for this time in their life when they aren’t as easy to photograph, but now that it’s here I’m not sure I’m ready ;)

First of all, Ginger is incredible, as a photographer & as a person. I used to regularly take pictures of my children, but over the last year or so, I have not picked up my camera nearly as much. I feel as though time is slipping away. I also tend to keep my kids where they are when I take pictures, but feel that the images could be much stronger if I seek out the light more.

The hardest part of photographing my kids is being able to step back and capture the true nature of our daily life. I tend to want to take the time to de-clutter or set up the scene and thus sometimes missing the moment.

Feeling so very inspired by Ginger’s style and completely understand the emotions behind her work as they really resonate with me. Love how she communicates so much with her work and would love to be able to do the same… Would so love to win this space .. And it could kick start my career just as needed.

The most difficult part in photographing my own children is getting out of the way. I tend to want to set things up, but my favorite images are the ones I take of them being “them”. I’m getting better at it, but I think it’s the only thing that matters in an image…is it real? I want to save the real them, not the “them” I forced on them. I just stumbled on this giveaway today but I would sure love this opportunity. I don’t follow many photographers, but I’ve found a special few that really manage to keep things real. Fantastic work!

I have been following Ginger for quite a while and love it so much, that it inspired me to start my own project 365. I love doing it, however it is so so hard to find enough interesting things in everyday life. I would love to get an opportunity to get even more inspiration from you!

I stumbled across Ginger on Instagram a month or so ago and as a paparazzi, hobbyist photographing mommy I was in complete awe! The way she captures unplanned priceless pictures of her children was so inspiring! I literally started planning my stay at home adventure with my little ones! Two great blogs you both have!

Honestly, the most difficult part for me is getting candid shots. My son ALWAYS seems to know when I have the camera on him and while he loves selfies he gets super shy if he can’t see what I’m taking pictures of. So all my shots are of him looking down :'(

Love Ginger’s work! This is such a fantastic opportunity! My greatest challenge photographing my children is capturing the real moments while still attempting to get things technically right (or close to it) and creative.

This looks like an amazing opportunity! I don’t have kids myself yet but I have a nephew and a niece whom I am always capturing on camera. I’m always interested in learning more about photography and learning skills I can pass on to my sisters for them to use for photographing their kids, too. I have a hard time with lighting but also with them moving a lot while I’m trying to take the picture so they come out blurry often.

This is so perfect! Exactly what I’ve been looking for in a photography course. I am challenged with finding new ways to photograph my children. I often think of taking pictures at meal times, when they are stiiing in one place, happy with food. I need some variety!

ah, I would love to learn from ginger! It’s easy to get caught up with everyday life, but I try my best to capture the little moments. right now, I need some more inspiration how to make beautiful pictures.

To me, the most difficult part about photographing children is stepping back, capturing the ambience, the place, and sometimes also stepping forward and capturing little details. Sometimes I feel
I have and endless reel of close ups and portraits which are beautiful, but dont tell the whole story truthfully. To me, it is all about finding beauty in truth, in something that seems meaningless but it is perfectly meaningful to me as a mom.

I have been parenting my seven children for over 21 years and have always loved capturing their childhood through photographs. Sadly, the photographs of the older ones are for the most part, blurry and cluttered with busy backgrounds. The hardest part for me then was knowing simple basics about good photography. It is getting better now, but I mourn the lost opportunities to beautifully capture my now grown babies. I am trying to make up for it now.

WHoopsies. I commented before I read what I was supposed to comment about. :) I feel like I just don’t have the “eye” for what will look good in a picture and what will not. I would like to develop that skill!